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early as eleven years
of age. His first practice was on some young rooks which he brought
down with unerring aim, from a rookery on the grounds at our country
residence. He was so particular in his general demeanour that I
designated him Gentleman John, and my Royal Boy. His brothers, all
younger than himself, styled him, Old Jack, and Gentleman Jack. He
had a wonderful power of attaching animals of all kinds. Nothing
moved him to anger so readily as seeing one ill-used. Beating a horse
savagely would excite his disgust, as well as his dislike to the person
who did it. Not having a dog, he used to take a fine cat we had, which
would accompany him to any distance in the fields, and hunt the
hedges and hedgerows for him. Never feeling that I could have too
much of his company, I frequently made him my companion in long
country walks, during which he incessantly asked for information. For
the science of astronomy he evinced an early taste. When a very little
boy, I began to teach him the names and positions of the principal

constellations, the revolutions of the earth on its axis, and the fixity of
the polar star. I believe we were the first to notice a comet in 1845,
which was only a short time visible here, having a south declination,
and which we afterwards knew to have been a fine object in the
Southern hemisphere.
At the age of eleven he went to school at Ashburton. Although the
distance was not more than six miles from the cottage of Ipplepen, my
then general place of residence, it was with much reluctance that I
consented to the separation. Several friends urged on me that I was not
doing him justice by keeping him at home; that a public seminary
where he could mix with other boys was an advantage, even though he
might not learn more. It also happened that, at this time, a gentleman
with whom I had been long acquainted, and of whose talents I held a
high opinion, was elected to the head-mastership of that school, which
held its chief endowments from Gifford, the satiric poet, and Dr.
Ireland, the late Dean of Westminster. I remember how I returned in
gloomy spirits after leaving him there. As I had four other children, it
may be said that I showed undue partiality for this one, but my
conscience clears me from the charge. I deeply felt the loss of his
companionship. He was so suggestive that he set me thinking; and
whilst I was endeavouring to teach, I acquired more knowledge than I
imparted. There was nothing remarkable in his progress at school. I
experienced no disappointment because he did not return home at the
end of every half-year with the head prize. He merely brought his six
months' bill, and a letter commending his steady diligence and uniform
propriety of conduct. In viva voce examinations he had scarcely an
equal chance with one of inferior intellect who might be quicker in
expression; for besides the trifling hesitation of speech I have already
noticed, he would have been ashamed to give a wrong answer from
eagerness. A remark of Mr. Page, his tutor, confirmed me in my own
previous impression on this point. "It vexes me," he said, "that John
does not take a top prize, for I see by his countenance that he
understands as much, if not more, than any boy in my school; yet from
want of readiness in answering he allows very inferior lads to win the
tickets from him." On the whole, I think he derived much benefit from
Ashburton; for besides his scholastic improvement he became an adept
at the usual games, and a social favourite out of school hours.

At the age of sixteen he left the grammar-school, and I find the 30th of
May, 1850, to be the date of his articles to me as surgeon. I had at that
time taken a partner, Henry Manly, Esquire, now resident at Ipplepen,
with a view of introducing and resigning to him my Ipplepen practice.
Being in a country place, five miles from Totnes, where there was no
chemist or dispensary, my son readily acquired his duties, which were
to distribute the medicines and appliances directed for our patients by
my partner and myself. In all cases his caution was extreme and we had
no fear of his making mistakes. The ordinary operations of extracting a
tooth or breathing a vein when a bumpkin presented himself as a
patient, he speedily mastered. The absurd practice of going to be bled
on any occasion that might strike the fancy of the party, without the
advice of the doctor, was not at that time so completely obsolete as